Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez are getting so much attention — justifiably so — that it’s easy to forget the Giants have a tight end playing in this game, too.

But the Patriots won’t be able to sleep on Ballard, who at 6-feet-6, 275 pounds is almost as big a target as Gronkowski. New England already knows this, too, after Ballard’s 1-yard TD grab with 15 seconds left gave the Giants a Week 9 win in Foxborough earlier this season.

Ballard has been relatively quiet in the playoffs because of a late-season knee injury, catching just three passes for 33 yards, but he said the knee feels relatively healthy now and shouldn’t limit him in the Super Bowl.

TRAVIS BECKUM

Beckum, not Ballard, was expected to be the pass-catching replacement at tight end for Kevin Boss when the season began. He battled injuries and didn’t make much of an impact until December, when he caught a 67-yard TD in a 38-35 (home loss) to the Packers.

Beckum showed impressive elusiveness and speed on that score, zig-zagging his way downfield and announcing his presence on national TV long after many had forgotten he still was even on the roster.

He found a role in the passing game in the playoffs, too, catching seven passes for 45 yards. Beckum, in fact, has two more receptions in the postseason than he did during the entire regular season.

HENRY HYNOSKI

Don’t laugh. After all, who can forget the undrafted rookie hurdling Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman after a key reception in the season-ending win at the Meadowlands that put Big Blue in the playoffs?

The Giants don’t use their fullback all that often but Hynoski did have three catches for 20 yards in the first three playoff games. And with the Patriots — who don’t have a very good secondary — no doubt scrambling to find people to cover the Manning’s fleet of big-play receivers, a short dump-off to Hynoski has the potential to go a long way.

MICHAEL BOLEY

The veteran outside linebacker doesn’t say much off the field and had flown under the radar for much of his seven-year NFL career before stepping it up this season — particularly in the playoffs.

Boley’s two sacks of Aaron Rodgers were crucial in the Giants’ 37-30 divisional win over the Packers, and with Big Blue’s defensive front almost certain to give the Patriots fits, the chance probably will be there for Boley to draw a line on Tom Brady on a blitz.

Boley also is capable in coverage, and Brady has been vulnerable to interceptions by linebackers on short throws over the middle this season.

JACQUIAN WILLIAMS

The speedy, athletic rookie has become a big part of the Giants’ scheme at linebacker, but it’s on special teams where Williams could make a game-changing play against the Patriots.

If that happens, it won’t be a surprise. It was Williams who got the Giants here two weeks ago with his strip of the 49ers’ Kyle Williams on a punt return in OT deep in San Francisco territory that set up Lawrence Tynes’ game-winning field goal in a 20-17 win.

The Patriots also have a recent history of special-teams gaffes. Danny Woodhead fumbled a kickoff against the Ravens in the second half of the AFC title game that caused more than a few anxious moments for New England.